Local distributor says Aditya Chopra had guaranteed that the film is not offensive.

KARACHI:

The release of the greatly anticipated Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma and Shahrukh Khan starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan may well turn out to be one of the most mysterious foreign releases in the history of Pakistani cinema.

Earlier, it was reported that the film will not be released here as it shows Shahrukh playing an army officer in Kashmir, and it was believed that the plot may portray Pakistan in a negative light. The recent ban on Bollywood films Agent Vinod and Ek Tha Tiger for being “against national institutions” lead many to believe that Jab Tak Hai Jaan’s chances in Pakistan are bleak. But here’s the good news: thanks to some leg work by the local distributor of the film, IMGC Global Entertainment and assurance from Yash Raj Films (YRF) that the plot will not hurt sentiments, Yash Chopra’s final project will be screened in Pakistan.

“The film is coming to Pakistan and is in the process of being imported,” Chairman of IMGC Global Entertainment Amjad Rasheed told The Express Tribune.

“The film has received one NOC [No Objection Certificate] from the ministry of regulations and services and is now awaiting another from the ministry of commerce,” said Rasheed. “After this it will be all set to arrive in Pakistan. Upon its arrival, which would be sometime next week, the film will be submitted to the censor board for reviewing,” he added excitedly.

After all the rumours and hullabaloo surrounding its release, it was Rasheed’s trip to Yash Chopra’s funeral that really worked in Pakistan’s favour, as he claims that Aditya Chopra himself guaranteed that the film is not going to offend Pakistanis.

“I met Aditya Chopra on his father’s funeral and he assured me that the film is not against Pakistan or its security agencies and it does not have any negative religious connotations. It has a positive vibe overall and I am glad that one of the most awaited films of the year is finally releasing in Pakistan,” said Rasheed.

Vice President of International Operations at YRF Avtar Panesar confirmed this, when he told The Express Tribune, “I can confirm that the film has nothing that may be construed as anti-Pakistan; [it] is a simple love story,” he said. He added, “The film will be submitted to the censor board and only once they clear [it] will we release it. We have always respected the law in any of the countries we release our films in and Pakistan is no exception. We will respect the law of Pakistan and the release will take place once the formalities are completed.”

Apart from being Yash Chopra’s final project, it is also the only Shahrukh Khan film to come out this year and his first film with Katrina Kaif, which makes celebrities and audiences alike excited about its release.

“Like me, Pakistanis are anxiously waiting for Jab Tak Hai Jaan,” actor Humaima Malik told The Express Tribune. “This is Yash Chopra’s last contribution to cinema, so it should be honoured as he honoured people on this side of the border with so many great films,” she added.

It seems that the confusion regarding the release of the biggest Bollywood flick of 2012 is finally heading for a more favourable solution for Pakistan. If the film clears the Central Board of Film Censors review, which seems likely, it would be a treat for exhibitors and audiences. Get your popcorn ready: Jab Tak Hai Jaan is expected to release in major cinemas in Pakistan on November 15!

I am sorry but I think us Pakistani’s are over reacting a little bit. Its like we want to condemn screening of Indian movies here but secrectly we all watch them in any case. If the nation was so much against these movies then these would never have worked here in Pakistan in the first place or there wouldnt have been such a huge black market of pirated Indian movies here. Please understand that as a nation, we are losing tolerance in all walks of life & such comments reflect very very badly on us as a tolerant nation internationally.

Also we should not bring Islam into everything. Its sickening how we utilize our religion to our convenience and prove our points.

Bollywood movies are greatly appreciated by masses in Pakistan and thats the truth. We do not appreciate movies like border / agent vinod etc but the fact of the matter is .. a little romantic flick with Shahrukh in it does not hurt any one. Mr. Yash Chopra was a legend. No one can deny that fact. In fact its not just Pakistanis who appreciate good flicks from Bollywood, these are appreciated by a lot of other nations in the world. We should learn to appreciate and accept the facts instead of posting idiotic comments pretending that we dont watch Indian movies in Pakistan when frankly we all know its not correct.

One needs to understand that we watch movies to spend / waste free time. Watching Bollywood movies does not make us less of any thing. It is however a trend here where some elitist Pakistanis make snide comments about Bollywood flicks becuase they feel that admitting that they watch Bollywood movies would some how impact their status in the society. These same vary people would however brag for hours about Hollywood flicks. Its a shame really. India cinema has come such a long way. It has also been generous in terms of giving chances to talent from Pakistan on a number of occasions and therefore I believe we should appreciate Bollywood where its due.

the alacrity with which some souls comment here about how much they hate Bollywood or at time ”WHO CARES ” type comments only show the predominant inferiority complex prevailing among the commentators…one who doesn’t care , doesn’t waste his or her precious minutes reading articles on Bollywood and then further waste some more time in writing such silly comments….its akin to, I writing here i don’t care about Express Tribune…truth is you can either love or hate Bollywood but you cant ignore it….ek Bollywood ka dialogue yaad aa raha hai….”main tumhari zindagi mein Budaape (old age) ki tarah aaunga,kabhi na jaane ke liye”

I see all Bollywood movies, good or bad, regularly. In our City, We have a theater complex of 8 movie halls, all screening Bollywood movies daily. I see many Iranians (they like to call themselves as Persians in USA) regularly in the movie halls. The Iranian crowd is mainly woman and very few men. Few White Americans, both young and old also watch Bollywood movies regularly. Recently, I am seeing increasing number of Koreans in the movie halls. Once I was talking to two elderly White Americans who I see every Saturday at the movie halls. One is in a wheel chair and his friend pushes the wheel chair. When we were talking, they told me that he asked me to talk a bit slow as they both have hearing problem and are finding it hard to follow my lip movement. I asked him how they are able to follow the movie. They told me that it is not a problem as they follow the captions. I see more and more Indian origin youth bring their non-Indian boyfriend or girlfriend to see Indian movies. I hardly see any Pakistani at the Indian movie halls here.

@pankaj:
They don’t even need Pirated dvds. The day a film is released, our local cable operators play it. So anyone who likes bollywood does not even bother to go to cinema, when movies are being played on Cable TV. And in this way, those who don’t have any interest in bollywood also watch it while switching the channels. I think that’s the reason why bollywood is quite famous here. It keeps playing 24/7.

@s:
Pakistan has so far not been able to research and establish its identity. Most Pakistanis are very very confused. Whether Pakistan is to be pure Islamic state, or just Muslim state, or liberal state (why support Malala, if not). Remember real history(please do not butcher it) Does any Pakistani know what Aurangzeb’s rule started-beginning of the end. And what his policies were?